European and regional policymakers outlined a series of positive, solution-driven measures to expand housing supply and strengthen rental markets during the CNN Portugal Summit: Housing as a Path to the Future, held on 3 December at Lisbon’s Champalimaud Foundation and organised by Grupo Iberinmo.
Speaking at the event, José María García Gómez, Madrid’s Deputy Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, stressed that the key to easing housing pressures lies in proactive planning, regulatory clarity and strong public–private partnerships. He highlighted the Plan VIVE as a model that is already delivering results and attracting international interest.
According to García Gómez, the region’s flagship PPP programme has enabled Madrid to mobilise public land at zero cost to both investors and taxpayers, attracting more than €1.8 billion in private capital for affordable rental housing. The initiative has already delivered 5,150 affordable rental homes, with 3,000 more under construction and an additional 3,400 units to be awarded shortly.
“Our role as a public administration is to create the right conditions for more housing to be built,” he noted, stressing the importance of balanced regulation and predictable planning frameworks.
Flexibility in urban planning was another central theme. The deputy minister argued that a modern approach to zoning — including the diversification of housing types and the promotion of alternative residential models such as flex living or smaller typologies — can better respond to evolving demographic and economic needs.
From the EU perspective, Borja Giménez Larraz, MEP and rapporteur of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, underlined ongoing efforts in Brussels to streamline regulation and accelerate construction. He pointed to an upcoming package focused on simplifying environmental and permitting procedures, designed to remove bottlenecks and facilitate faster delivery of new housing across member states.
Giménez Larraz emphasised that Europe can play a constructive coordinating role by sharing best practices, supporting innovation and helping member states modernise legislation to make development more agile and predictable. He also highlighted the need to align housing policy with broader economic and demographic trends across the EU.
The summit was also marked by the presence of Miguel Pinto Luz, Portugal’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, who presented the country’s new fiscal package for housing — including a proposed reduction in VAT for construction and a reform of urban licensing procedures to create a more efficient and transparent approval process.